The 1986 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées from Domaine René Engel traverses the decades with superb serenity, drawing from this vintage of patience a patina of rare elegance. The nose opens with melted notes of blond tobacco, sandalwood, and wild berries, carried by a palate that is both straight and remarkably lively. A bottle with sovereign poise, whose vibrant length testifies to an ability to defy time without ever losing its brilliance.